Effects of Salacia lehmbachii ethanol root bark extract on estrous cycle and sex hormones of female albino rats

Objective: To evaluate the effect of Salacia lehmbachii (S. lehmbachii) ethanol root bark extract on estrous cycle and sex hormones in female rats. Methods: Forty-eight virgin rats with regular 4-day cycle were grouped into four and each group was further subdivided into ‘a’ and ‘b’ (n=6). Each group was orally treated for 28 days with 2 mL of distilled water (control), ethanol root bark extract of S. lehmbachii in doses of 250, 500 and 750 mg/kg/body weight (groups 2, 3, 4, respectively). Estrous cycle was determined daily using the vaginal smear method. Rats in ‘a’ subgroups were weighed and sacrificed on the 29th day, and blood was collected for serum generation which was used for hormonal assay and sex organs were removed and weighed. Rats in ‘b’ subgroups were discontinued from treatment for 2 weeks and the parameters above were reassessed. Results: The mean length of estrous cycle and duration of diestrous of treated rats were prolonged dose dependently compared to control. The increase was significant (P